(TULSA) By the time the final speaker stepped away from the bimah at Congregation B’nai Emunah, the room was quiet enough to hear pen tips scratch paper. The July event, called “Who Is My Neighbor?”, brought hundreds of residents together to hear real stories from newcomers and longtime Oklahomans who live with the daily effects of immigration policy.
Organized by Action Tulsa, a nonpartisan, faith-based nonprofit, the evening asked attendees to write letters to elected officials and carry what they learned back into their churches, schools, and workplaces. At the center of the night was Mohammad Paiman Faqirzada, an Afghan immigrant who resettled in Tulsa in 2021. He described his family’s separation, the danger his sisters face under Taliban rule, and the strain of building a new life while worrying about loved ones who remain in harm’s way.
Context and timing
The timing was deliberate. Immigration has become one of the most heated public issues in Oklahoma this year, with new state-level proposals, a reshaped city hall, and visible stress in classrooms.
- Mayor Monroe Nichols, elected in late 2024, has said Tulsa police will not take part in mass deportation efforts and will not assist federal immigration enforcement in non-criminal cases.
- The Tulsa Police Department has emphasized officers do not have authority to detain someone solely because of immigration status unless state law changes.
This stance has drawn both pushback and support. Supporters say trust between officers and immigrant families is essential for reporting crime; critics say different.
The event: storytelling tied to action
Against this backdrop, faith leaders, teachers, small-business owners, and new Tulsans filled the synagogue’s social hall for “Who Is My Neighbor?” With stories like Faqirzada’s anchoring the program, organizers highlighted gaps between rumor and reality.
Attendees were urged to write to:
– U.S. Sen. James Lankford
– Gov. Kevin Stitt
– Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond
Organizers also distributed a list of local resources and invited participants to additional workshops focused on:
– common myths about immigration,
– how to talk about immigration in daily life,
– how to support families in crisis.
Action Tulsa’s upcoming calendar includes a workshop on myth-busting and community action on September 20, 2025, at the Church of Saint Mary. The sessions aim to answer everyday practical questions—what to do when a neighbor is afraid to call police, how to help after a raid or rumor, and how to respond to harsh rhetoric at school board meetings or workplaces.
Civic action: letter-writing and community examples
At the event’s close, the program shifted to civic action. Attendees wrote letters asking elected leaders to consider the public-safety effects of fear-based enforcement and to support policies that keep families together.
Organizers encouraged people to share specific community examples, such as:
– a parent who no longer drives to work because of fear,
– a student who skips school after hearing about classroom status checks,
– a business owner who cannot afford to lose trained staff.
These real-life examples underscore the human consequences behind policy debates.
“Policy abstractions turn into daily tests—who drives to a job, who sees a doctor, who walks a child into a school building.”
Policy splits and local reactions
The letter-writing appeal reflected a sharp policy split in the state.
- Earlier this year, Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for the removal of Afghan refugees from Oklahoma.
- In contrast, Mayor Nichols reiterated that Tulsa would not assist in deporting undocumented residents who are not suspected of a crime, framing the stance as a public-safety measure.
Local commissioners on the Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission, including Amy Ariza and Amanda Peregrina, warned that federal deportation campaigns and state-level rhetoric have driven families deeper into fear—making them less likely to report crimes or serve as witnesses.
Faqirzada’s story—arriving in 2021 as the U.S. ended its military presence in Afghanistan—brought those tensions into sharp relief. His account connected international events to local daily life.
Key facts and figures
The article presents several important data points that ground the discussion:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Immigrant share of Tulsa’s population | ~10% |
| Estimated unauthorized immigrants in Tulsa County | ~24,000 |
| Estimated annual state taxes paid by undocumented Oklahomans | $227 million |
| Drop in Hispanic student attendance on one January day | 217 students |
These numbers remind readers that immigrant neighbors are part of the workforce, school systems, and tax base.
Schools and education pressures
Education emerged as a key pressure point.
- State Superintendent Ryan Walters has pushed rules that would require schools to record immigration status of students and parents and to have teachers pass a U.S. naturalization test. These rules are not enforceable now and would need legislative approval.
- Tulsa Public Schools Board President Stacey Woolley expressed concern about trauma and disruption from immigration enforcement and emphasized strict protocols if law enforcement appears in schools.
The short-term drop of 217 Hispanic students in one day showed how headlines and social media warnings can quickly affect attendance and learning.
Sanctuary debate and legal landscape
The policy mix has created confusion:
- The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) lists Tulsa as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction because the city does not assist federal enforcement in non-criminal cases.
- Oklahoma law says cities cannot adopt sanctuary policies, but enforcement of that law is currently blocked by a legal challenge.
City leaders say Tulsa’s approach focuses on local public-safety priorities rather than defying federal law. Police maintain they will:
– enforce criminal laws regardless of immigration status,
– work with federal partners on serious cases,
– avoid targeting people for civil immigration violations unrelated to local crime.
Community responses and services
Amid the noise, Action Tulsa and other groups have emphasized slow, steady community work:
– telling personal stories,
– checking facts in plain language,
– giving simple action steps to reduce fear.
Workshops are built around practical situations:
1. If someone witnesses a crime but fears calling 911, what to do.
2. If a parent worries about a school visit from law enforcement, who to contact and what rules apply.
3. If a neighbor is stopped for a traffic violation, what rights they have and how to find reputable legal help.
Faith-based groups, nonprofits, and schools are offering practical support:
– rides to appointments,
– translation services,
– help filling forms for public services that don’t require proof of immigration status,
– legal screenings, mental health support, and emergency aid.
Celebrations and civic integration
For families who became citizens, tone shifts toward celebration and civic engagement. On March 13, 2025, Tulsa held a naturalization ceremony at the Arvest Convention Center’s Legacy Hall.
These events:
– welcome new citizens,
– provide information on civic engagement (attending council meetings, serving on boards, volunteering),
– serve as a public counterpoint to fear by emphasizing belonging.
Where to find reliable information
City and community leaders direct residents to official resources:
- City of Tulsa’s New Tulsans Initiative: cityoftulsa.org
- Action Tulsa events and resources: actiontulsa.org
- Tulsa Public Schools district guidance: tulsaschools.org
Community groups such as the Tulsa YWCA continue to offer services at 8145 E. 17th St.
Human stories and daily realities
Faqirzada’s account illustrates how global events affect local choices—rent, school, work—making some parts of life feel normal and others fragile. Other common scenes described by residents include:
- a grandfather seeking a medical appointment while anxious about distant relatives,
- a teen juggling AP classes and late-night international calls,
- a mother keeping a packed go-bag by the door, just in case.
These personal realities shape how families respond to policy talk and media coverage.
Practical community steps and next actions
Residents who attended “Who Is My Neighbor?” left with concrete actions:
– They wrote letters to officials.
– They planned what to share at home and at work.
– They committed to the September 20 Action Tulsa workshop.
– They promised to check in on neighbors who stopped driving to the grocery store.
Organizers and leaders endorse a repeating pattern of community work:
1. Tell true stories.
2. Check the facts.
3. Act in ways that keep people safe.
City officials, school leaders, and community groups plan to keep meeting regularly to share information and coordinate support. Police say they will focus on crime—not civil immigration status—unless state law changes. Advocates urge families to consult official sources before making decisions based on social media or rumors.
The months ahead
Several developments will shape the near future:
– the lawsuit over Oklahoma’s anti-sanctuary law,
– possible legislative returns to the debate over school rules,
– ongoing federal enforcement actions that continue to make headlines.
Organizers say that amid legal and political churn, the slow work of listening and acting together matters most.
Final takeaways
- Immigrants make up about 10% of Tulsa’s residents; roughly 24,000 people in Tulsa County lack legal status; undocumented Oklahomans contribute about $227 million a year in state taxes.
- The central civic ask is simple: meet your neighbors, listen, and act together to keep the community strong.
- Practical steps include writing to elected officials, attending workshops (including the September 20, 2025 event), volunteering, and checking official resources listed above.
“Who Is My Neighbor?”—the question printed in bold on the synagogue program—captures the local approach: stories, facts, and steady action to protect neighbors and preserve community trust.
For resources and event listings:
– City of Tulsa New Tulsans Initiative: cityoftulsa.org
– Action Tulsa events: actiontulsa.org
– Tulsa Public Schools: tulsaschools.org
This Article in a Nutshell
At a July 2025 Action Tulsa forum, communities heard immigrant testimonies—notably from Afghan resettler Mohammad Faqirzada—wrote letters to officials, and planned a September 20 myth-busting workshop amid local–state policy clashes. Data: immigrants ≈10% of Tulsa, ~24,000 unauthorized, $227 million yearly taxes; schools saw a one-day drop of 217 Hispanic students.
